In this issue:

• Tip Corner - Do the right thing first - by Norman
• API Corner - GetEnvironmentVariable - by Brad Moore
• Using Qcard DLL - Lesson 5 - by Alyce Watson
• Sprite Byte: Collision Detection - by Alyce Watson
• Simple Math for Projectile Motion - by Tom Nally
• Sub Handlers - by Mike Bradbury
• Comal DLL Agent Lesson - by Janet Terra
• LB Server: CGI with LB - by Colin McMurchie
• Setting-up a LB Web Presence - by Brad Moore
• Review: Alyce's Restaurant - by Ken Lewis Sr.
• An Interview with Carl Gundel - LB News Staff
• Demos
  • Double Click Demo - by Moore, Gundel, Watson
  • Disk Cleaner - by Gordon Sweet
• Newsletter help
• Index

Notes from the Editor:

There have been several of these maxims that I have grafted into my philosophy of life. They are simple and in many cases common sense, but they crop up all the time. The first is this month's quote: "Do the right thing before doing things right". After all what is the point of doing something really well if it was the wrong action for the situation. Know what needs done before launching out to do it.

It applies so well to programming. Where will you be if you sit down and start pounding out source code? It is like not knowing where you are going - you will certainly end up there. You need to understand what to do before you do it. It is a message I always take to new programmers. Sure, learning to program is fun. You are learning a new way of expressing yourself, and it is great to create. Sooner or later you will need to really do something, then what. Analytical skills are so critical. You must examine the situation, know the environment, understand the user and their needs before you can begin to create the program. And even then you are not ready - you still need to transform what you learn in the analysis into a plan from which to create your program.

Do the right thing first. That is the key. Then you can concentrate on doing it right! I had seen Norman post a little message earlier in the month, and it fit so well with the theme, I knew I needed to include it in this issue.

I have a few other maxims I like to keep handy, you may find them useful someday in some bizarre way perhaps. They probably don't apply quite as much to programming, but then who can really tell:

• Always carry a spare
• Always have plan B, as Plan A hardly ever goes right
• If in doubt - fake it - the audience is ignorant of the actual lines (that one came from 9th grade drama - it is amazing many places in life this really applies!)
• Carry out more than you packed in
• Two wrongs don't make a right, but three rights make a left...

Well, it kind of digresses from there. Boy do we have a lot of really great talent contributing this month. I thought for a long time that I would be handling the whole thing myself, but now I am wondering whether my own contributions are actually going to fit into this newsletter. Man you folks who contribute make this job fun. Thanks so much.

As a late note, I was unable to get the Beginning Programming article, installment ten, completed for this issue. It is very close to being ready, but I can not see holding the newsletter up for it. It should appear in the December 2004 issue.

I really can't go much farther without thanking Janet who graciously edits and proofs each contribution and edition each month. Thanks Janet - you make this job a breeze! What is more, Janet has contributed a really fun article, in the form of a lesson, that explores using Microsoft Agents with Liberty Basic.

We have many fine contributions this month with articles and demos coming from Alyce Watson, Tom Nally, Colin McMurchie, Gordon Sweet, Mike Bradbury and Norman. We even have an interesting interview with Carl Gundel, creator of Liberty Basic.

I want to extend a huge thanks to all these really fine people who have made this issue possible.

- Brad Moore